Cong blasts Akali govt, accuses it of 'patronising' criminals

"The over-riding principle of the Akalis is to create fear psychosis among people and that is why top party leaders are patronising criminals," Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Jakhar said during a debate in the Assembly on law and order.

"Anti-social elements are enjoying support from Akali leadership at district levels and the idea behind it is to terrorise people," he said, accusing Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal of giving "patronage" to criminals.

Seeking more teeth for police to fight crime, Jakhar demanded setting up of district level police complaints authorities where the aggrieved can approach directly, instead of "going to the chief minister" for justice.

He was apparently referring to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's oft-repeated offer that anyone can approach him in case of any problem.

Expressing concern over law and order, he referred to the killing of a police officer in Amritsar allegedly by an Akali activist.

Terming Badal an "able administrator", the Congress leader, however, claimed that the chief minister has lost control over governance and things won't have been that worse had he been involved into the affairs himself.

"People have reposed faith in you (Badal) and gave vote in your name. Badal is head of the government...Control over governance had been hijacked from you (Badal)," he claimed.